Israel Continues Operations in Gaza Amid Rising Concerns Over Misdirected Killing of Prisoners and War Conduct

Israel has continued its military offensive in Gaza following a series of incidents, including the shooting of three hostages who were unarmed and waving a white flag. This event has sparked further scrutiny of Israel’s wartime practices during the ongoing 10-week conflict, which has caused extensive destruction and loss of life in Gaza.

The region has experienced a communication blackout for four consecutive days, the longest during the conflict, posing challenges for rescue operations and tracking civilian casualties.

The visit of U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Israel might bring additional pressure to reduce major combat operations. The U.S., while providing crucial support to Israel, has voiced concerns over the high number of civilian casualties and the displacement of a significant portion of Gaza’s population.

Northern Gaza has faced severe devastation, pushing most residents to seek refuge in the more crowded southern parts. Israel asserts that its strikes are targeting militant locations and has pledged to continue until Hamas is dismantled. Hamas initiated the conflict with an attack into southern Israel on October 7, which allegedly resulted in the death of 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Israel also aims to secure the release of approximately 129 hostages held in Gaza.

The shooting of the three hostages by Israeli troops, acknowledged by the military, has been criticized as contrary to the army’s rules of engagement and is under high-level investigation. Israel claims to avoid civilian harm and accuses Hamas of using civilians as shields. However, Palestinians and human rights groups have accused Israeli forces of endangering civilians and firing on non-threatening individuals both in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, which has also seen increased violence.

In the West Bank, at least five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli raid in Tulkarem. Israel has also launched a military police investigation into the killing of two Palestinians in the West Bank, following the release of videos by an Israeli rights group that appeared to show the fatal shooting of an incapacitated man and an unarmed man.

In Gaza, Palestinians have reported several instances of Israeli soldiers opening fire on civilians attempting to escape to safety. Hamas claims that other hostages were killed by Israeli fire or airstrikes.

The Health Ministry in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, has reported over 18,700 Palestinian deaths but has not updated this figure due to the communication blackout. The ministry does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths but has indicated that the majority of the fatalities were women and children.

On the Israeli side, the military reports the death of 121 of its soldiers and claims to have killed thousands of militants, though evidence for this has not been provided.

The plight of Palestinian civilians has received limited attention in Israel, where support for the war remains strong, partly due to the trauma caused by the October 7 attack.

The mistaken killing of hostages is likely to increase pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to resume negotiations with Hamas for a prisoner swap.

Hamas has stated that no further hostage releases will occur until the war ends and demands the release of numerous Palestinian prisoners, including prominent militants.

In a previous ceasefire in November, Hamas released over 100 of the more than 240 hostages captured on October 7 in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Israel has successfully rescued one hostage.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to Israel will continue discussions on ending the most intense phase of the war. Israeli and U.S. officials have mentioned transitioning to more targeted strikes, but a timeline for this shift is unclear.

Israel and the U.S. have differing views on Gaza’s governance post-war. The U.S. supports a unified Palestinian government in Gaza and the West Bank, leading to a two-state solution, while Israel’s current government opposes Palestinian statehood and maintains control over Gaza, east Jerusalem, and the West Bank.

Netanyahu has expressed pride in preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state during his tenure.